- Thousands Traveling to Springfield, Mass. for Memorable Basketball Weekend -
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — Now in its 23rd year, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Army National Guard Hoophall Classic, presented by Spalding at Springfield College’s Blake Arena, has cemented itself as the top high school basketball showcase of the season.
This year, Hoophall Classic is joined by three additional events - the inaugural Hoophall Invitational, held at seven Springfield high schools; Hoophall Prep Showcase, held at American International College; and Jr. Hoophall Championships, which take place at the fieldhouse at Springfield College. According to the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, the five-day slate of events from January 16-20 is expected to generate over $10 million in economic impact for the local community.
"Hosting Hoophall Weekend in Springfield is more than just an exciting opportunity to highlight the birthplace of basketball - it’s a catalyst for significant economic impact," said John Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. "Thousands of visitors from all over the country and beyond will drive millions of dollars in economic impact to local businesses, from hotels and restaurants to retail and transportation. Hoophall Weekend is a slam dunk for the city, showcasing Springfield as a thriving destination while delivering a significant boost to our regional economy.”
2025 Hoophall Weekend Statistics
Army National Guard Hoophall Classic presented by Spalding (high school showcase)
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January 16-20
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Expected Attendance: 11,000+
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50 Participating Schools from 17 States
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1,200+ players, including eight of the Top 10 from the Class of 2025 and seven of the Top 10 from 2026
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1,200+ hotel room nights booked by teams, sponsors and television
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50+ ESPN crew will produce nine games over a two-day period
Army National Guard Hoophall Invitational presented by Spalding (high school tournament)
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January 18-19
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Expected Attendance: 3,000+
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64 Participating Schools from around New England plus NJ, NY, and PA
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1,400+ players
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700+ hotel room nights booked by teams
Hoophall Prep Showcase (prep school showcase)
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January 17-20
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Operated by Hall of Fame partner National Prep Championship
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70+ Participating Teams
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Traveling from 17 states plus Canada and Finland
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1,200+ players
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500+ hotel room nights booked by teams
Jr. Hoophall Classic (5th – 8th grade tournament)
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January 18-19
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Operated by Hall of Fame partner BasketBull
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80+ Participating Teams
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Traveling from New England plus NJ, NY, PA, MD, and DC
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1,400+ players
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600+ hotel room nights booked by teams
Media Coverage
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60+ Credentialed Media Members, including:
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National Media: ESPN, The Athletic, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, SLAM Magazine, CBS Sports, Overtime, Yahoo Sports, and Bleacher Report
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Local Coverage: MassLive, Hartford Courant, Reminder Publications, and Turley Publications
Since 2015, 64 Hoophall Classic participants have gone on to play in the NBA, including Jaylen Brown (2015), Jamal Murray (2015), Bam Adebayo (2016), Jayson Tatum (2016), Zion Williamson (2018), Anthony Edwards (2019), Cade Cunningham (2020), and Reed Sheppard (2023). NBA superstars Kevin Durant (2006), Kyrie Irving (2010), Anthony Davis (2011), and Karl-Anthony Towns (2014) have also participated in the event. Several star women’s players have also participated in Hoophall Classic, including Tina Charles (2006), Elena Delle Donne (2008), Breanna Stewart (2012), and JuJu Watkins (2023).
Nine of the last 13 No. 1 overall picks in the NBA Draft have played at the Hoophall Classic. This year, Hoophall Classic will feature 33 players in ESPN’s Top 100 from the Class of 2025 (eight of the top 10), 19 from the Class of 2026 Top 60, and three from the Class of 2027 Top 25.
A limited number of tickets for the 2025 Army National Guard Hoophall Classic, presented by Spalding, are still available at tickets.hoophall.com.
About Army National Guard
Empowering the next generation. Supporting local communities. Aligning personal passions to meaningful part-time roles. That’s what the Army National Guard is all about. Through partnerships with organizations like HoopHall, the Army National Guard fosters leadership, resilience, and teamwork in young athletes across the country. Learn how the Army National Guard unlocks positive new life experiences at nationalguard.com.
About Spalding
SPALDING®is the largest basketball equipment brand in the world. Since its founding in 1876, the iconic American brand has remained one of the most recognized driving basketball today. SPALDING®is a sporting goods leader with high school, collegiate and professional partnerships. The SPALDING® trademark is owned by Russell Brands, LLC. For more information, visit spalding.com.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501©(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 450 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams.” Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit hoophall.com, follow @hoophallclassic and #HHClassic, or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.